Nigeria will encourage freedom of speech, robust discourse, Buhari tells diplomats

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that participation of citizens in democracy will continue to be encouraged through freedom of speech and robust political discourse, even as he urged respect for divergent cultures and opinions.

Receiving Letters of Credence from Ambassadors and High Commissioners of six countries, at the State House, in Abuja, yesterday, the President told the diplomats that Nigeria’s strength remains in its diversity.

The Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the Republic of India, Mr. Gangadharan Balasubramanian; Germany, Mrs. Annett Gunther; Sudan, Mr. Mohamed Yousif Ibrahim Abdelmannan; Democratic Republic of Congo, Mrs. Gerengbo Yakivu Pascaline; State of Palestine, Abdullah M.A. Abu Shawesh and The Kingdom of Netherlands, Mr. Willem Wouter Plomp, presented their Letters of Credence to Buhari.

He advised: “As you settle down to your diplomatic responsibilities, you will realise how diverse Nigeria is. We are not only multi-ethnic and religious but also multi-cultural.

“We enjoy unfettered freedom of speech and engage in robust political discourses. Sometimes, the nature of these discourses, tend to give the impression that we are constantly opposed to each other.

“The reality is that there is so much that bind us together than the few areas of our divergence. I have no doubts in my mind that you will soon appreciate our uniqueness and indeed resilience as a people, as well as our diversity which constitutes our strength.”

Buhari urged the diplomats to build on the existing good relations their predecessors achieved and be more proactive in engagements.